History Main / TeaIsClassy

Even as tea becomes more widespread and "common", and with diners selling "to go" paper cups of tea, the connotation of tea drinking as a sign of sophistication and wealth still persists. Posh characters--most likely TheOjou, the PrincelyYoungMan, TheBeautifulElite, or the BourgeoisBohemian couple in their expensive home--will often be seen drinking tea during their spare time ([[IdleRich which they have plenty of]]), and might even be seen carrying a teacup and a saucer even when it's inappropriate. Meanwhile, middle-class characters may take to drinking tea in order to look more classy, and little girls role-playing [[PrincessPhase as princesses or rich young ladies]] may include tea parties as an essential part of their act. There's also a NoTrueScotsman aspect; to someone who pours their tea from a silver teapot into a porcelain cup and saucer, a working-class Brit with a mug of "builder's brew" doesn't actually ''appreciate'' tea.

[[quoteright:350:[[Manga/BlackLagoon https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tea_3.PNG]]]]

Whether it is a group of [[BritsLoveTea Victorian-esque ladies and gentlemen]] sipping their afternoon tea out of fancy china cups while taking dainty bites of finger foods and desserts, or the elaborate ceremonies performed by accomplished masters garbed in expensive-looking kimonos in Asian cultures, the very practice of tea drinking is presented as a sign of wealth and privilege--contrasting the "working-class" coffee.[[note]] While the inexpensive "cuppa joe" at the diner or truck stop is a working-class drink, coffee has become a high class beverage in posh BourgeoisBohemian circles, where espresso aficionados drink costly shots of shade-grown beans, chat in pretentious SommelierSpeak about the "tasting notes" and buy thousand dollar stainless steel espresso machines. [[/note]] The ConspicuousConsumption signifiers of costly teapots and fine china cups, and the ritual of steeping and pouring the tea add to the high-class ambiance.

Even as tea becomes more widespread and "common", and with diners selling "to go" paper cups of tea, the connotation of tea-drinking as a sign of sophistication and wealth still persists. Posh characters--most likely TheOjou, the PrincelyYoungMan, TheBeautifulElite, or the BourgeoisBohemian couple in their expensive home--will often be seen drinking tea during their spare time ([[IdleRich which they have plenty of]]), and might even be seen carrying a teacup and a saucer even when it's inappropriate. Meanwhile, middle-class characters may take to drinking tea in order to look more classy, and little girls role-playing [[PrincessPhase as princesses or rich young ladies]] may include tea parties as an essential part of their act. There's also a NoTrueScotsman aspect; to someone who pours their tea from a silver teapot into a porcelein cup and saucer, a working class Brit with a mug of "builder's brew" doesn't actually ''appreciate'' tea.

* ''Anime/GirlsUndPanzer'' combines this with BritsLoveTea. The St. Gloriana team is an AristocratTeam based on the UK and has a tea set as its coat of arms. The school's creed is "Be elegant at all times", and the students (most of whom have tea-based EdibleThemeNaming) are often seen drinking tea even during matches. Their team commander, [[ProperLady Darjeeling]], who epitomizes the school's promotion of dignified elegance, is also the most prominent tea-drinker. Her character page's image even shows her holding a teacup and a saucer.

* ''Manga/MissionYozakuraFamily'': The eponymous Yozakura family is considered an elite among the spy world, but the ones who reflect their refined prestige the most are Kyoichiro (who, outside of his obsessive siscon, is a reserved PerpetualSmiler who dresses in a formal suit and tie to match) and Futaba (the most responsible of the siblings who is almost always seen in ElegantGothicLolita dresses). Their favorite drinks are black tea and green tea, respectively, and when they are called to serve as examiners for the silver-ranked exams, they are shown to be drinking tea. In fact, Futaba's exam revolves around tea ceremony.

** Saiko Intelli, a student at rival hero school Seiai Academy, has a quirk called IQ which allows her to boost her intelligence by drinking tea. Most of her screen time sees her sitting in her team's fancy HQ sitting primly in a chair as she drinks the tea from a delicate china cup.

* ''Literature/TheCaseFilesOfJewelerRichard'': Richard is so rich, classy, and just plain ''weird'' that he's obsessed with his royal milk tea and serves it to his wealthy, upperclass clientele. The fact that he's a quarter [[BritsLoveTea British]] also helps.

* Mr Finch of ''Series/PersonOfInterest'' is noted to drink sencha green tea, befitting his high-brow personality as an reclusive billionaire software genius.

* ''VideoGame/ArcanumOfSteamworksAndMagickObscura'': Gar comes from a noble family and is especially fond of Earl Grey. The player needs to debate with him on the merits of green tea over earl grey before he'd be willing to join the party.

** [[ElegantGothicLolita Elegant Gothic]] [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Vampire]] Rachel, the heiress of the noble Alucard house, practically obsesses over tea. Her most common entrance has her enjoying a cup before battle. She belittles Hakumen by ordering tea at the start of their BossBattle. Her console story mode begins with a cup of tea, and ends with [[spoiler:the same]] one in her Ragna Ending.

* ''WesternAnimation/TimeSquad'': In "Tea Time for Time Squad", the team go to 1776 for the Boston Tea Party, where the Colonists are supposed to toss shipments of tea into the harbor to protest unfair taxes. Only they find them having a ''literal'' tea party while wearing powdered wigs and acting all sophisticated, not willing to resort to violence. It's only when they switch to drinking coffee that the Colonists turn into {{Fratbro}}s and begin the American Revolution as intended.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': Princess Celestia [[PrincessesRule rules Equestria alongside her sister Luna]] and in "A Bird in the Hoof", she's shown drinking many cups of tea, at one point pulling a prank on the Cakes by pretending to sip, so the tea overflows when they refill it.